coalition
A coalition is a group of different people or organizations that work together for a short time to reach a goal.
Explanation at your level:
A coalition is a group. Different people join this group to do one thing. When they finish, they stop being a group. It is like a team for a project.
When different parties or groups work together to win an election, we call it a coalition. It is a temporary team. They want to reach a goal, like passing a new law.
A coalition is a formal alliance. You often see this word in the news when talking about governments. If no party has enough power alone, they form a coalition. It is a strategic way to share influence.
The term coalition implies a synergy between groups that might otherwise be competitors. It is used to describe a temporary partnership where the participants maintain their individual identity but act as one to achieve a specific political or social outcome.
In advanced discourse, a coalition refers to a heterogeneous group coalescing for a shared agenda. It highlights the pragmatic nature of political or organizational alliances. Unlike a merger, which is permanent, a coalition is characterized by its finite lifespan and specific, goal-oriented purpose.
Etymologically, the coalition represents the intersection of individual interests into a collective vessel. In high-level academic or literary contexts, it describes the delicate balance of power within a group. It is frequently analyzed in political science to examine how disparate ideologies negotiate compromise to maintain a functional governing body.
Word in 30 Seconds
- A group joining together.
- Usually temporary.
- Common in politics.
- Means 'to grow together'.
Think of a coalition as a 'super-team' built for a specific mission. When you see this word, it almost always implies that the members are usually separate or even rivals, but they have decided to put their differences aside to get something done.
It is most commonly used in politics. For example, if no single party wins enough votes to run a government, they might form a coalition with another party to share power. It is not a permanent marriage; it is a strategic partnership that lasts as long as the goal requires.
The word coalition comes from the Latin word coalitio, which literally means 'to grow together.' It is derived from the verb coalescere, where co- means 'together' and alere means 'to nourish' or 'to grow.'
Historically, it moved into English via French in the 17th century. It was originally used to describe physical things that grew together, like vines or tissues, but it eventually shifted to describe social and political groups that 'grow' into a single unit for a temporary period. It is a beautiful metaphor for how individual parts merge to become something stronger.
You will mostly hear this word in formal or professional contexts, especially in news reports about government or international relations. It is not typically used in casual conversation; you wouldn't say, 'My friends and I are a coalition to order pizza.'
Common collocations include 'form a coalition', 'join a coalition', or 'a broad coalition'. It is a high-register word that signals you are talking about organized, strategic cooperation rather than just a group of friends hanging out.
While 'coalition' itself isn't part of many set idioms, it is often associated with phrases like 'in the same boat' (sharing a situation), 'joining forces' (the most common synonym for the action), or 'burying the hatchet' (making peace to work together). Another related concept is 'united front', which describes the appearance of a coalition working in total agreement.
The word is a standard countable noun. You can say 'a coalition' or 'coalitions' (plural). It is usually followed by the preposition 'of' (e.g., 'a coalition of activists').
Pronunciation: In British English, it is /ˌkəʊ.əˈlɪʃ.ən/, and in American English, it is /ˌkoʊ.əˈlɪʃ.ən/. The stress is on the third syllable, -LI-. It rhymes with words like abolition, demolition, and partition.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'alimony' (nourishment).
Pronunciation Guide
starts with a soft 'koh' sound
starts with a long 'oh' sound
Common Errors
- stressing the first syllable
- swallowing the 'sh' sound
- mispronouncing the 'li' as 'lie'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
moderate
moderate
moderate
moderate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Collective Nouns
The coalition is...
Examples by Level
The group is a coalition.
group = team
singular noun
The two parties formed a coalition.
They are in a coalition.
The coalition has a goal.
We need a strong coalition.
The coalition is very big.
The coalition worked together.
The coalition ended today.
Who is in the coalition?
The coalition of charities helped the city.
They formed a coalition to stop the pollution.
The government is a coalition of three parties.
A broad coalition supported the new policy.
The coalition collapsed after the vote.
They built a coalition of local businesses.
The coalition aims to improve schools.
The coalition members met yesterday.
The ruling coalition faces a difficult election.
They created a coalition of diverse interest groups.
A fragile coalition was formed to address the crisis.
The coalition members agreed on a compromise.
He leads a coalition of environmental organizations.
The coalition is struggling to stay united.
They are seeking to expand the coalition.
The coalition's primary objective is economic reform.
The coalition represents a strategic alignment of opposing factions.
Their coalition was predicated on a shared vision for reform.
A coalition of international powers intervened in the conflict.
The coalition's internal discord threatened its stability.
They forged a coalition to challenge the incumbent.
The coalition serves as a platform for collective bargaining.
The coalition proved to be a temporary but effective alliance.
The coalition's success depends on continued cooperation.
The coalition epitomizes the complexities of multiparty governance.
A tenuous coalition emerged from the ashes of the failed treaty.
The coalition's mandate was limited to constitutional reform.
They navigated the intricacies of coalition politics with skill.
The coalition acts as a buffer against radical policy shifts.
A coalition of dissenting voices challenged the status quo.
The coalition's dissolution marked the end of an era.
The coalition is a testament to the power of political pragmatism.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"join forces"
to start working together
Let's join forces to finish this.
neutral""
""
""
""
""
Easily Confused
Similar beginning
Colony is a place/settlement
A colony of ants vs a coalition of parties.
Sentence Patterns
The coalition of [noun] + verb
The coalition of voters won.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Coalition is a noun, not a verb.
Tips
Think 'Co-Alignment'
Remember it as groups aligning their interests.
News Context
Listen for it in political news.
Government
Look up 'coalition government'.
Pluralization
It follows standard rules.
Stress the Li
Co-a-LI-tion.
Not a verb
Don't say 'they coalitioned'.
Latin roots
It means 'to grow together'.
Flashcards
Use it in a sentence.
Formal tone
Use in essays.
Rhymes
Think of 'demolition'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
CO-AL-ITION: CO-operate to ALign for a lITION (mission).
Visual Association
A group of puzzle pieces fitting together.
Word Web
Challenge
Write a sentence about a fake coalition.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: to grow together
Cultural Context
None, but can be politically charged.
Common in parliamentary systems like the UK or Canada.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Politics
- form a coalition
- coalition government
- break the coalition
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever been part of a coalition?"
"Why do coalitions break up?"
"Can you name a famous coalition?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you worked in a group.
What makes a good team?
Frequently Asked Questions
15 questionsNo, it is usually temporary.
Test Yourself
The ___ worked together.
It is a group working together.
What is a coalition?
It is a group.
A coalition is usually permanent.
It is usually temporary.
Word
Meaning
They are synonyms.
Subject-verb-object order.
Score: /5
Summary
A coalition is a temporary team formed to achieve a specific goal.
- A group joining together.
- Usually temporary.
- Common in politics.
- Means 'to grow together'.
Think 'Co-Alignment'
Remember it as groups aligning their interests.
News Context
Listen for it in political news.
Government
Look up 'coalition government'.
Pluralization
It follows standard rules.
Example
The two smaller parties formed a coalition to gain a majority.
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